METTU UNIVERSITY

Faculty of Natural and Computational Science

DEPARTMENT OF BIOLOGY

Research on

Assessment of Medicinal Uses of Plants in the Case of Ageta Kebele Nopha

Woreda, Illu Aba Bora Zone, Oromia Regional State, South Western
Ethiopia
A Research Submitted in Partial Fulfillment for Bachelor Science Degree in
Applied Biology
By: -
Etsegenet Denbel …………………RCS/820/07

Addis Alemayehu …………………RCS/743/07

Mitike Ashagre……………….…...RCS/905 /07

Advisor: Woinshet Muhie (MSc)

June, 2017

Mettu, Ethiopia

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 APPROVAL SHEET OF RESEARCH
Mettu University
Faculty of Natural and Computational Sciences
Department of Biology
This is to certify that the research prepared by: Etsegenet Denbel, Addis Alemayehu and
Mitike Ashagre entitled: Assessment of Medicinal Uses of Plants in the Case of

Ageta Kebele Nopha Woreda, Illu Aba Bora Zone, Oromia Regional State,
South Western Ethiopia and submitted in fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree
of Bachelor of Science in Biology complied with the regulations of the University and meets
the accepted standards with the respect to originality and quality.

Signed by the Examining Board:

Examiner___________________________________Signature___________Date__________

Chairman___________________________________Signature___________Date__________

Advisor__________________________________Signature_____________Date__________

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 AKNOWLEDGMENT
First and fore most we would like to thank Almighty God who has helped us to accomplish
our study. Our first and heart felt gratitude goes to our honored research advisor Woinshet
Muhie(MSc) who has given us her valuable time and comments and also has shaped the entire
work of this research study. We are also grateful to Nopha woreda agricultural office for the
opportunity and reliable information’s to our study. We are very much indebted to Lema Etefa
(MSc) for his moral supports in all aspects to complete our study. Last but not least, we would
like to thank to our family, who had sent us to school at early time stage of childhood and
stood with our side all the time and for their persistent encouragement and moral support
throughout our study.

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 DEDICATION

Dedicated to
Our Dearest
Family, Our Best Friends
&
The Almighty God

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 TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page

AKNOWLEDGMENT 3

DEDICATION 4

TABLE OF CONTENTS 5

LIST OF FIGURES 6

LIST OF TABLES 7

LIST OF APPENDIXES 9

LIST OF ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS 10

ABSTRACT 11

1. INTRODUCTION 12

1.1. BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY 12

1.2. STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM 13
1.4. OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY 14

1.5. SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY 15

1.6. LIMITATION OF THE STUDY 15

2. LITERATURE REVIEW 16

2.1. MEDICINAL PLANTS AND ITS ORIGIN 16

2.2. INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE AND THE ENVIRONMENT 16
2.3. HERBAL MEDICINE AS A SOURCE OF MODERN MEDICINE 16
2.4. MEDICINAL PLANTS IN ETHIOPIA 17
2.4.1 Medicinal plants diversity and distribution in Ethiopia 17
2.4.2 Role of medicinal plants 18
3. MATERIALS AND METHODS 19

3.1. DESCRIPTION OF THE STUDY AREA 19

3.1.1 Geographical location and population size 19
3.1.2 Topography 20

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 3.1.3 Soil 20
3.1.5 Climate condition of the study area 20
3.2 DESIGN OF THE STUDY 20
3.3 METHODS OF DATA COLLECTION 20
3.4 SAMPLE SIZE DETERMINATION AND SAMPLING TECHNIQUE 21
3.4.1 Sample size determination and sample size 21
3.5 DATA ANALYSIS 22
4. RESULTS AND DISCCUSSION 23

4.1 ABUNDANCE OF MEDICINAL PLANTS IN THE STUDY AREA 23

4.1.1 Disease types and Medicinal Plants Used to Treat Human Aliments 26
4.1.2 Medicinal Plant Species Used to Treat Livestock Health Problem Only 27
4.2 MODE OF PREPARATION OF MEDICINAL PLANTS 28
4.3 ROUTE OF ADMINISTRATION OF THE FOLK MEDICINE 29
4.4 THREATS TO MEDICINAL PLANTS IN THE STUDY AREA 30
5. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 32

5.1 CONCLUSION 32
5.2. RECOMMENDATIONS 33
5. REFERENCES 34

6. Appendixes 38

LIST OF FIGURES

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Figure Pages

Figure 1. Map of the study area……………………………………………………...……….45

Figure 2. Number and habitats of medicinal plants used to treat human, livestock and
both……… ……..………………………………………..…………………………………...46

Figure 3. Number of medicinal plants used to treat human, livestock both……….............….46

Figure 4. Route of administration of folk medicine ………………...…………………….….46

LIST OF TABLES

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Table Pages

Table 1. Diversity of plant species with in corresponding family ………...…….……….45

Table 2. List of major treated human illness and corresponding number used for the treatment
of each human aliment ……… ……………………………………..………...……………...46

Table 3. Lists of medicinal plants used to treat both livestock and human ailments……...….46

Table 4. List of major treated animal illness and corresponding number used for the treatment
of each animal ailment ………….....…………………..………………………………….….46

Table 5. Mode of preparation medicinal plants in the study area...……………………….….46

Table 6. General demographic information in the study area………….………………….….46

LIST OF APPENDIXES

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Appendix Pages

Appendix 1. List of medicinal plants habit and habitats encountered in the study area …...46

Appendix 2. List of medicinal plants used for treating only human aliments study
area……………………………………………………………….………………………….46

Appendix 3. List of medicinal plants used for treating any livestock animals
…………………………………………..…………………………………………….….46

Appendix 4. List of medicinal plants used for treating both human and livestock.………….46

Appendix 5. List of major treated human, animal and both illness in the study area…….….46

Appendix 6. List of semi-structure question ………….……….……………………….….46

LIST OF ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS

IK Indigenous knowledge
NWAO Nopha Woreda Agriculture office
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WHO World Health Organization

ABSTRACT
An ethno botanical data was carried out to document information on the use of medicinal
plants in case of Agera kebele Nopha woreda. The objective of this study was to assess
medicinal plants and their uses in the study area. Main methods used for this study were
10
semi-structured interview and field observation. Data was analyzed by descriptive statistical
method. Total of 26 plant species belonging in 17 families identified and documented in Ageta
kebele. Of the total, 17 species (65.4%) noted to treat only human aliments while 5species are
used treat livestock aliments and 4 species (15.4%) are used to treat both livestock and
human. The major form of preparation of plant medicine in the study area were used in
33.3% liquid form, 21.20% powdered form, 12.10% prepared as smelled form, 9.10% chewed
form, 15.20% smashed, boiled, burned creamed form and 9% chewed form. Route of folk
medicine in the study area include oral, dermal, nasal and through eye. Most popular way of
administration of the herbal medicine were oral which account for 20 followed by 8 nasals, 4
dermal and 1 route way were ocular. In the study, several factors both human and natural
were found to contribute to the threats that affect survival of medicinal plants species in the
study area.????????????????conclusions and recommendations

Key words: Ageta kebele, Indigenous knowledge and Medicinal plants.

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 1. INTRODUCTION
1.1. Background of the Study
According to the world health organization(WHO) definition of medicinal plants (also known
as indigenous or folk medicine) are the sum total of knowledge, skills and practice based on
theories, believes and experience indigenous to different culture whether explicated or used in
the mountain of health as in prevention, improvement and treatment at physical and mental
illness (WHO,2008).

Medicinal plants are defined as those plants containing phytochemicals, secondary and
primary metabolites that have a medical action and ailments. Historically plants have played
an important role in medicine. For early people were intricately connected to diet and healing
(Lema Etafa, 2000).

About 85% of world population uses herbal medicine for prevention and treatments of disease
and livestock increasing developed and developing countries. Furthermore, many days’ drug
owns their origin to plants. Although traditional medicines involve the use of substances other
than plants from the backbone at these health care systems. Traditional medicines comprise of
therapeutic practices have been in existence for hundreds of years before the development and
spread of modern medicine and heritage of different social and cultural practice approaches,
knowledge and beliefs incorporating plants animal and or exercise applied single or in
combination to maintain well-being and treat diagnose or prevent illness (WHO, 2002).

Many countries lack complete inventories to their medicinal plant species. Yet such
inventories are important in survey to identify unique valuable components and such
inventories coupled with knowledgeable from rural people, which have learnt through
resource use rather than form formal training (Farnthworth, 1996).

The majority of people in Africa use plants based medicine for treating illness and ailments.
As the population growth increase, demands of medicinal plants become increasing in Africa
(Dawit and Abebe, 1993).

Ethiopia traditional medicines are vastly complex diverse and varies greatly among different
ethnic group. Most traditional medicine practices in Ethiopia rely on an explanation of disease

12
that draws on both the mythical and natural causes of an illness and employ a holistic
approach to treatments (Kakwaro, 1983). Conventional medicinal services remain
concentrated in growing population keeping health care access out because medicinal plants
are culturally entered accessible and affordable, up to 80% at the Ethiopia relies on traditional
remedies as primary source of health care (WHO and Cunninham, 1993).

In Ethiopia, the use of medicinal plants in widely practices. The wide spread use of traditional
medicine in Ethiopia could be attributed to cultural accessibility ethical agent’s certain types
of disease physically accessibility and economic altered ability as compared to modern
medicine (Cunningham, 1997).

The Oromo people have a long traditional at social organization the Gada system, by which
they maintain their social political and cultural system. Moreover, traditional healers of the
Oromo people are well known in treating many illnesses with medicine made from local
medicinal plants for home remedies for the minor illness (Basch, 1991).

Illu Aba Bora zone is one of the Oromia Regional State found south western parts of Ethiopia
which is well known in the largest coffee forest called Yayu, which is the most important
forest for the conservation of the wild population in the world. The patient who use medicinal
plants and do not inform their health care provides may do this for several reasons.

Ageta kebele is also the area which is found in Nopha woreda Illu Aba Bora transfers the
indigenous knowledge to the generation by oral or the knowledge restricted to the hands of
few healers. Therefore, this study aims to preserve indigenous knowledge in the form of
documents and to provide information in.

1.2. Statement of the problem

Most of the knowledge acquired by the local people has passed on to them by the mouth from
one generation to another. Such orally preserved information is liable to lost it lost it left
undocumented. A great medicinal plant species is still carried and orally transmitted by the
indigenous people’s regions with less accessibility and comparatively slow rate of
development (Kassaye et al., 2006).

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The role of the medicinal plant species has also been aggravated by the erosion of the age old
accumulated indigenous knowledge on traditional use and management of these plants as its
transfer system is widely known to be poor (Levan and Mohan, 1996).

Ethiopian’s indigenous medicinal knowledge which available in rural communities’ fragile

traditional skills that are likely to be lost when communities emigrate to towns or other region
with different flora and can also be lost by life style changes industrialization rapid loss of
natural habitat or if the local ecology is drastically altered due to anthropological events
(Farooquee, 2004).

Nopha woreda Ageta kebele also indigenous knowledge on utilization of medicinal plants
unwritten. Therefore, this study was survey to identify and document the medicinal plants on
the study area. This study has the aim to answer the following questions.

1.3. Research questions

1. What types of plant species used for medicinal purpose?

2. What are the threats to medicinal plants in the area?

3. What are the modes of preparation parts for these folk medicines?

1.4. Objectives of the Study

The general objective of the research was

 To assess medicinal plants and their uses in Ageta kebele.

The specific objectives were:

 To identify plant species, use in treating human and livestock aliments in the study
area.

 To investigate indigenous disease treatment using locally available medicinal

plants.

 To document plant parts use for medicinal purpose and method of preparation in
the study area.
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1.5. Significance of the Study

The result of this study will provide:

 To give documented information on the use of plants of drug preparation methods, the
disease treated and other may lost or disorder rather than orally transferred
information from generation to generation.
 To give basis for the invention of modern drug on top of the passes the heritage values
of resource.
 To intended the people threats and other affecting things of medicinal plants.
 To identify medicinal plant species to give attention management and conservation.
 To design the preserve way indigenous knowledge of local community about parts use
for medicinal value.
 To document the most medicinal plants that used to both human and livestock.
 Helpful to the other researchers working on similar area as secondary source of
information in the field of ethnobotany of Southwestern Ethiopia.

1.6. Limitation of the Study

Knowledge on most medicinal plants known by healers is hidden from general public.
Healers never show live plants or tell their names to their patients. Thus, faces difficult to
document the most valuable medicinal plants in the study area. In addition to this, the study
challenges with lack of experiences and financial problem.

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2. Literature Review
2.1. Medicinal Plants and its origin
Those plants have healing properties are termed as medicinal plants or herbs. Herbal medicine
treatment is believed to have started by the early humans. When people started to select their
food from plants growing nearby, they must have kept some of those which they found to cure
some of their ailment. Thus, they use must have arisen out of need. Through out of centuries
some of these plants have been used successfully to treat disease and later on the constituted
the basis for many of modern day drugs (Abebe and Zewdu, 2001).

John Harshberger in 1895 brought up the term Ethno botany for the first time. He defined as
Ethno botany as’’ the use of plants by aboriginal people’’ (Ethiopia pharmaceutical Journal,
2001).

2.2. Indigenous knowledge and the Environment

The significance of natural environment and its resources as well as use, to which
environmental resources are trees and shrubs besides providing fodder to the livestock, have
many other uses primary one being their medicinal value. Plants used for the treatments of
various ailments are numerous and most of them have been very effective. It follows them for
indigenous knowledge, developed after many years of experiments with the various plants
must be protected and recorded (Jansen 1981).

2.3. Herbal Medicine as a source of modern medicine

According to Levantine and Mohan (1996) about 75-90% of the rural population in the world
(excluding western countries) relies on herbal medicine as their only health care. World
Health Organization (WHO) estimate that 70-80% people in developing countries including
Africa depend on traditional medicines for their health care (Cotton, 1996). This is not only
the poverty when people cannot afford to buy expensive modern drugs, but traditional system
are also more culturally acceptable, and meet the physiological needs in away modern
medicines (Dawit and Asfaw, 2003).

The integration of modern health system and traditional medicine will provide a better public
health service. This on one hand will have truly effective and affordable health care for low-
income groups in the developing world. Estimates show that about 25,000 to 75,000 species
16
of plants have been used in traditional medicines (Muta, 1996). Evidently, traditional
knowledge of medicinal plants is important in development of new modern drug (Mohan,
1996).

2.4. Medicinal Plants in Ethiopia

Ethiopia has a significance portion of two of the world’s biodiversity rich areas (hotspots)
i.e.in eastern Afromontane biodiversity hotspot and the horn of Africa biodiversity hotspot.
These hotspots house of a lot of the useful wild biodiversity particularly those of medicinal
plants. The biodiversity richness of Ethiopia was known in the past 5000 years ago, when
ancient Egyptians Greek and Romans used as it as a source of unique commodities like
Frankincense, myth and other plant products, which are also used for medicine preparation
(Mirgissa, 1998).

Most Ethiopian traditional medicinal knowledge is kept in strict secretly; however, it is

dynamic in that the practitioners make every effort to widen their scope by reciprocal
exchange of limited information with each other through the traditional pharmacopeias
(Cunningham, 1988).

2.4.1 Medicinal plants diversity and distribution in Ethiopia

Different vegetation types that are found in the various agroecological zones of Ethiopia
accommodate various types of medicinal plants. The wood land, montane vegetation
including grass lands and forests and the evergreen scrubs and rocky areas contain more
medicinal plants with concentration in the wood land and observed that the microphylls
vegetation at the wood land listed more medicinal plant species followed by mountain
grassland and riverine vegetation while the afro-alpine vegetation ranked last. The number of
different language spoken in Ethiopia approaches 90 ethnic groups (Tilahun, 2000).
Each corresponds to its unique sociocultural population thus amounting to the high human
cultural diversity. Each of these cultural domains has its own set of written and/or
pharmacopoeias with the medicinal use of some species being restricted to that given culture
(Brown, 1994).

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The various parts of medicinal plants have been used such as leaves roots and barks of the
steam. However, leaves are regarded as the most cited plants parts used by healers for the
preparation traditional medicines. The various literature available show the significance role
of medicinal plants in primary health care delivery in Ethiopia where 70% of human and 90%
livestock population depend on traditional medicine similar to many developing countries
particularly that of sub Saharan African countries (Fatnth, 1980).

2.4.2 Role of medicinal plants

Plants have played crucial role as source of medicine in Ethiopia from the time immemorial to
combat different ailments and human suffering. It was the only system available for health
care prior to the introduction of modern medicine for prevention diagnosis and treatment of
social, mental and physical illness. To date traditional medicine has become integral parts of
Ethiopian people due to its long period of practice and existence (Jansen, 2001).

The antiquity of the traditional use of medicinal plants in Ethiopia could never be disregarded.
Due to accessibility and biomedical benefits there is a large magnitude of use interests of
medicinal plants in Ethiopia is reflected in various medico-religious manuscript produced on
parchment and believed to have originated several centuries ago (Dawit,1998).

Review of medicinal plants text books that have been written in Geez or Arabic language
between 17th & 18th centuries indicated that the majority of Ethiopian’s, with the exception of
few privilege groups starting from the time of Italian occupation, have been depending almost
entry on the traditional medicine (Haihe, 2005).

3. MATERIALS AND METHODS

3.1. Description of the Study Area

3.1.1 Geographical location and population size

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The study was survey on ethno botanical medicinal plants in Ageta kebele Nopha woreda Illu
Aba Bora zone in Oromia Regional State Southwestern Ethiopia. Nopha woreda is situated at
distance of 18km from the capital city Illu Aba Bora zone, Mettu and 600 km from Addis
Ababa. The study area lies between latitude 8º 18 N 35º 35E and longitude 8.30º N 35.83º E
and attitude 1605 meter above sea level (NWAO, 2017).

Fig 1: - Map of the study area

N AGETA KEBELE BOUNDARY

127000 128000 129000 130000 131000

SULI
suli
934000
SULI 934000

ibsa

bosona
933000 933000
kitabir lafa caffee
bunaaf lafa
qonnaa walii gala
karo mariyam

karaa
932000 ABU 932000

nopa town

931000 931000
ROAD

930000 ulmaya 930000

dizi

127000 128000 129000 130000 131000

scale 1:35000

(Source: Ageta kebele office administration,2017)

Nopha woreda contains 16 kebeles with a total population of 35,600 people 17200 male and
18400 females (NWAO, 2017). Among those kebeles Ageta contains 353 house holders, lived
total population of 1754, which 825 females and 929 males. Most of the populations have
followed agricultural system but, the rest are small scale merchants and private employers.
The main agricultural activities are growing coffee trees, fruits, crops such as maize and
different species of spices.

3.1.2 Topography

The topography of Nopha woreda has almost similar land scape each kebele are characterized
diverse geomorphological features distributed over the two major agro climate zone in some
ells high land (dega) and midland weyna dega) (NWAO,2017).

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 3.1.3 Soil

Geographically a study area (Ageta kebele) the land covered by different types of soil type.
According to Nopha woreda Agricultural office the common soil type is clay soil, verity soil
and red soil. Among those soils the most dominant soil type is red soil (NWAO, 2017).

3.1.5 Climate condition of the study area

Major areas obtained high rainfall between June-September and low rain fall is February and
March and dry season extend from October-May. The annual rain fall is (1850-1970 mm)
with the mean minimum and maximum annual temperature 14ºc and 33ºc respectively
(Mattphillips and Jean,2006).

3.2 Design of the Study

A research design to the study area has survey from March 23-30 March 2017 determine to
include one study area (Ageta kebele) out of 16 kebeles from Nopha woreda.

3.3 Methods of Data Collection

3.3.1 Type of Data Sources

A. Primary data source- is a method of data collection by direct contact with informants and
has observe being on time of gathering information.

B. Secondary data source- is a method of gathering information from secondary data sources,
like documented data, published and unpublished written materials.

3.3.2 Ways of Data Collection

For this study, primary data was applied to identify and document the traditional medicinal
plants in the study area. The method of data collection such as semi structured interview and
field observation guide with informants were employee to ethno botanical data (Martin,
1995).

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Semi structured interview is contact face to face within selected informants who have deep
and general knowledge about medicinal plants. Interview has on a checklist of question
prepared by English language then translating to local language (Afan oromo). The
information has recorded by local name of plants, mode of consumption, mode of preparation
and plants used as medicine.

Field observation has conducted in the study site by walking with the respondents where the
most medicinal plants available. The purpose of observation was to check the availability,
habit, habitat and identification of medicinal plant species that has mention during interview
of respondents.

Secondary data had used to translate the local name of medicinal plants in to English and the
scientific name and to compare the distribution of medicinal plants species around the world.

3.4 Sample Size Determination and Sampling Technique

3.4.1 Sample size determination and sample size

An appropriate sample size is representative enough by considering the variability of budget,

time and conduct date. Sample size fixed by considering the margin of error because the
informants may give wrong or right response.??????

To distribute the random sampling technique and the sample for the study Sample size
determination formula has used (Martin, 1995). Beyond these, the sample size determined by
lottery method in five intervals from the total of 353 householders. The respondents requested
voluntarily from each family members. In this study total 70 informants participated among
1754 total population.
Sample size determination formula and calculation as follows
N=NZ²pq/ (d² (N-1) +Z²pq)

Where, n=sample size

N=Total population

d=Margin of error

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 z=confidence level (95%) which is equal to 1.96

P=population

q= 1-p= 0.05

n=1754(1.96) ² (0.95) (0.05)/ (0.05) ² (1754-1) + (1.96) ² (0.05) ²

= 320.062904/4.564976 =70

3.4.2 Sample technique

Sample technique is systems of taking a small ratio of population by using large population to
get information of those large populations from a small observation by using some statistical
technique.In this study simple random technique has applied to avoid bias among the
population of the study kebeles from the woreda. informants, Kebele, woreda

3.5 Data Analysis

Data was analyzed by descriptive statistical method such as percentage and frequency were
applied to analyze and summarize the data of medicinal plants, use and associated knowledge.
The most useful information gathers on medicinal plants reports by local people: medicinal
value, application, method of preparation, routes of administration, disease treated, and part
used and habit of plant species was analyzed through descriptive statistics. To make simple
calculation to determine proportions draw bar graph MS Excel software 2010 version has
utilized.

4. RESULTS AND DISCCUSSION

The data presented here obtained from primary sources using semi structure interview field
observation with volunteer respondents. Totally 70 respondents aged >20 of which 43 males
and 27 women participated in the study area. The local people especially elder and
knowledgeable in the community members have their own knowledge about their
environment and surrounding. The data were collected by using semi-structured interview for
the respondents participated in different field of occupations, which are farmers (53%),
22
employers (17%), no work (16%) and (14%) were students. The major of them are inhabitants
live more than 27 years in the study area.

4.1 Abundance of Medicinal Plants in the Study Area

Total of 26 plant species were identified in to 17 families documented as having medicinal
value About 6 (23%) of medicinal plants were collected from wild, home garden 6 (23%) and
14 (54%) both in home garden.

Fig 2: Number and habitats of medicinal plants used to treat human, livestock and both

(Source: semi-structured interview, 2017).

Total of documented 26 medicinal plant species distributed under 17 families. Family salaceae
was represented by 4 species (15.38%) which is used to treat both human being and livestock
ailments. Families Euphorbiaceae, Rutaceae, Apocynaceae, Asteraceae, Myrtaceae and
Lamiaceae were 2 species, among these Euphorbiaceae and Rutaceae used to treat only
human being family Acanthaecae, only one species used to treat only livestock. The
remaining 9 families have only one species. The total of 12 species (46.18%) noted to treat
only human being while one species (3.85%) is used treat livestock ailments. Thirteen species
(49.99%) are used to treat both human and livestock.

Table 1. Diversity of plant species with in corresponding family

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No Items Family No of species %

Euphorbiaceae 2 7.69

Rutaceae 2 7.69

Fabaceae 1 3.85

Rununculaceae 1 3.85
1 Medicinal plants used to only human Rabiaceae 1 3.85
ailments
Brassicaceae 1 3.85

Boraginaceae 1 3.85

Alliaceae 1 3.85

Celatraceae 1 3.85

zingiberaceae 1 3.85

Total 12 46.18

Salanaceae 4 15.38
2 Both Apocynaceae 2 7.69

Asteraceae 2 7.69

myrtaceae 2 7.69

Lamiaceae 2 7.69

Linaceae 1 3.85

Total 13 49.99

3 Plants used only animal ailments Acanthaceae 1 3.85

Grand total 26 100

(Source: semi-structured interview, 2017).

Of the total, 17 species (65.4%) noted to treat only human aliments while 5 species are used
treat livestock aliments and 4 species (15.4%) are used to treat both livestock and human. The
existence and utilization of such large numbers of medicinal plants by people in the study area
24
indicates the majority of the people used and continued to use indigenous medicinal practices
for different aliments. Regarding their habit diversity shrub were the most common and stood
first with 11 species (42%) followed by tree and herb 7 species each (26.91%) and climber
species (3.85%).

Fig 3: Number of medicinal plants used to treat human, livestock and both

(Source: semi-structured interview, 2017).

Each of growth form of medicinal plants used for treating health problem of human, livestock
as well as both human and livestock in the study area

4.1.1 Disease types and Medicinal Plants Used to Treat Human Aliments

Out of total 26 medicinal plants species documented from the area 17 species (65.4%) were
used to treat about 17 types of human aliments and one plant species can treat a single disease
or a number of diseases. Similarly, one aliment can be treated with multiple plant species. For
instance, treated with plant species, stomach was treated with 5 different plant species,
tonsillitis were treated with species and diarrhea and cough treated with two species of
medicinal plants as shown in (Table-1)

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 Table 2. List of major treated human illness and corresponding number used for the
treatment of each human aliment

No Disease treated Local name of disease Number of plant species

1 Stomachache Garacha 5

2 Tonsillitis Harsasee 3

3 Diarrhea Gara kasaa 2

4 Cough Qakee 2

5 Lymphatic swelling Dhitoo 1

6 Guitar Inniqii 1

7 Gonorrhea Cophxoo 1

8 Amoebiosis Ambeebaa 1

9 Too Dhibee hilkanii 1

th ache

10 Eye evil Budaa 1

11 Intestinal parasite Ramoo gara 1

12 Common cold Dhibee Qorra 1

13 Nasal bleeding Funuuna 1

14 Wound Madaa, 1

15 Febrile illness Michi 1

16 Malaria Bussa 1

17 Headache Mata bowoo 1

(Source: semi-structured interview, 2017).

Table 3. List of medicinal plants used to treat both livestock and human ailments

No Disease treated Local name of disease No of plant species

1 Blotting Bokoksaa 2

2 Urine retention Rako ficanii 1

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3 Snake bite Bofa iddaa 1

4 Scabies Cittoo 1

(Source: semi-structured interview, 2017).

Out of 4 (15.4%) of plant used for treating both human and livestock ailments in the study
area 3 species (75%) were shrubs and 1 species (25%) was herb.

4.1.2 Medicinal Plant Species Used to Treat Livestock Health Problem Only

Medicinal plants recorded in this area 5 species (19.2%) were used to treat livestock ailments.
Plants Growth forms used treating animal disease i.e. shrub 1 species (20%) and both trees
and herbs 2 species (each have, (40%). Regarding the plant part used to treating animal
ailments uses leaves and roots are widely used for range of preparations than the other parts.

Table 4. List of major treated animal illness and corresponding number used for the treatment of
each animal ailment

No Disease treated Local name of the disease No of plant species

1 Black leg Bishoftuu 1

2 Eye disease Dhukuba Ijaa 1

3 Joint dislocation Rakina Buusaa 1

4 Leech infection Ulandhula 1

(Source: semi-structured interview, 2017).

4.2 Mode of Preparation of Medicinal Plants

The total plant species documented from the study area were 26 but since one plant species
can be used to treat more than one disease, and thus has more than one remedial preparation,
the total number of the plant preparation were 33. The composition of herbal preparation as a
single drug and in mixed ingredient form is not changed depending on the patient’s age sex
and other. However, the dose may be changed with age, level of disease, physical appearance
of the patient. The major form of preparation of plant medicine in the study area 33.3% liquid

27
form, 21.20% powdered form, 12.10% prepared as smelled form, 9.10% chewed form,
15.20% smashed, boiled, burned creamed form and 9% chewed form.

Table 5. Mode of preparation medicinal plants in the study area

Form of preparation Corresponding number %

Liquid 11 33.30%

Powdered 7 21.20%

Smashed, boiled, burned, creamed 5 15.20%

Smelled 4 12.10%

Chewed 3 9.10%

Drop 3 9.10%

(Source: semi-structured interview, 2017).

The popularity of liquid preparations may be due to easy method of the liquid preparation
form due to properly and availability of water as solvent. The widely using of the liquid
preparation form in this study is agreement with finding in other part of the country by
Sintayehu Tamene (2001), Mulugeta Kuman (2014) and Abebe Ahadu (1993).

4.3 Route of Administration of the Folk Medicine

The prepared drugs (medicine) are administrated through different route of administration.
The major route of folk medicine in the study area include oral, dermal, nasal and through
eye. Most popular way of administration of the herbal medicine were oral which account for
20 followed by 8 nasals, 4 dermal and 1 route way were ocular. (Fig.1) Both the dominant
route administration (oral and nasal) permits rapid physiological reaction of the prepared
medicine with pathogens and increase its curative power of remedies.

Fig 4: Route of administration of folk medicine

28
(Source: semi-structured interview, 2017).

Table 6. General demographic information in the study area

Characteristics Number Percentage (%)

Male 43 62

Sex Female 27 38

Total 70 100

20-35 13 18

36-51 20 29

Age categories 52-67 30 43

Above 67 7 10

Total 70 100

Married 50 72

Marital status Single 20 28

Total 70 100

Less than 10 years 5 7

≤ 20 years 27 39

More than 20 years 38 54

29
Year of live in area Total 70 100

Farmers 37 53

Employers 12 17

Occupation Students 10 14

No work 11 16

Total 70 100

(Source: semi-structured interview, 2017).

From the above table (6) the majority of the respondents are male (62%), age ranges from 52-
67 (43%) and 50 (72%) of them are married.

4.4 Threats to Medicinal Plants in the Study Area

In the study, several factors both human and natural were found to contribute to the threats
that affect survival of medicinal plants species in the study area. The important factors are
reported include agricultural expansion, Fencing, fire wood, Medicinal purpose, charcoal,
household tools, and termite problems. Thus, the need for agricultural land, fire wood and
fencing severely threatened plant species in general and medicinal plants in particular. Harvest
of medicinal plants put them also under threat, even though it is not severe as the other
factors. Except some plant species that are commonly known for their medicinal properties,
knowledge on most medicinal plants known by healers are hidden from general public.
Healers never show live plants or tell their names to their patients. They believe that showing
medicinal plants will incapacitate the healing power of the medicine. Traditional healers earn
income from their knowledge on medicinal plants. According to the informants, another
reason for the secrecy of information on medicinal plants is to avoid competitors in earning
income from treating patients. Similar findings were reported elsewhere (Fassil Kibebew,
2001; Mirutse Giday and Gobena Ameni, 2003). However, it was recognized that ethno
botanical knowledge on uses of some medicinal plants is transmitted orally to one or few
family members to use in secrecy. They disclose their knowledge on medicinal plants at old
age by the time when they most probably die before teaching the details of medicinal plants or
when they are too old to walk to the field to show the plants in their habitats. Modernization
and facility to modern medication has also contributed to the loss of indigenous knowledge as
30
new generations give less attention traditional medicinal plants. As a result, the indigenous
knowledge seems to be lost in this study area.

5. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

5.1 CONCLUSION
The study aimed at identifying and documenting the plants used to treat human and livestock
diseases. The study would involve 70 informants between the ages of >20 were randomly and
purposely selected from knowledgeable elders and local communities. Various
ethnomedicinal techniques were used to collect and analyzed the data: semi- structured
interviews, observation, and group discussion and combined with descriptive statistical
analysis were done. The overall project activity was taken between March 23-30/2017. The
outcome of this study was raised the responsibility of the community in the study area on
problem associated with medicinal plants and give awareness for the sustainable use of
medicinal plants and the conservation of the threatened ones.

Nopha Woreda Ageta kebele harbors diverse plant species. In this study, 26 medicinal plant
species were recorded. Of these, 65.4% and 19.20% of the species were reported as seeing
used to treat human ailments and livestock only, respectively, while 15.38% of them were
reported to treat both livestock and human ailments. The majority of these medicinal plant
species were obtained from wild.

31
Analysis of growth forms of these medicinal plants revealed that sherbs constitute the largest
category 11 (42%) followed by hrebs 7 (26.91%) and 7(26.91%) trees and 1(3.34%) species.
Leaves were the most frequently used plant parts followed by roots for preparation of human
and livestock remedies. Traditional medicine preparation mostly involved single plant. Route
of administration was mainly internal in which oral administration is the common route
followed by nasal (internal application).

The main factors that threaten indigenous knowledge were secrecy of information on
medicinal plants, oral based knowledge transfer and modernization of young generation to
abandon traditional medicine and turning to modern medication. Therefore, awareness rising
should be made among the healers so as to avoid erosion of the indigenous knowledge and to
ensure its sustainable use. Further biological studies should also be conducted on the reported
medicinal plant species of the study area so as to utilize them in drug development.

5.2. Recommendations
Based on the results of the study, the following recommendations are forwarded: -

 planting of multipurpose plants is beneficial. Agricultural Office need to distribute such

medicinal plants to local people since the use vital to people of the study area.

 Indigenous people of the study area should be involved in conservation and management
plans of plant resources.

 Recognition and intellectual property rights should be given to traditional healers, either
through certification or through organizing them in a community to popularize their
indigenous knowledge on medicinal plants.

 Local people must be taught of growing medicinal plants in home gardens mixing with
crops in the farm lands and live fences.

32
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36
 6. Appendixes
Appendix 1. List of medicinal plants habit and habitats encountered in the study area

No Scientific name Family name Local name Habit Habitat

1 Acacia abyssinia Fabaceue Laaftoo Tree* Wild

2 Acuantera shimperi Apacyanaceue Qurramuu Shreb Both

3 Allium sativum Alliaceue Qullubbii adii Herb Home garden

37
4 Carissa spinarum Apocynaceue Agamsa Shrub Both

5 Catha edulis Celastiraceue Caatii Shrub Both

6 Citruss airantifollia Rutaceue Loomii Shrub Both

7 Clemats hirsute Rununauilaceue Hiddafittii Climber* Wild

8 Coffee arabica Rabiaceae Buna Shrub* Both

9 Cordial africana Boraginaceue Waddeessa Tree Wild

10 Croton Euphorbiaceae Bakkanniisa Tree Both

macrostachyus

11 Eucalyptus globules Mytrfaceue Bargamoo adii tree Wild

12 Euphorbia apliphylla Euphorbiaceue Adaamii Tree Both

13 Justiciashimperiana Accantaceue Dhummuuggaa Shrub Both

14 Lepideum sativum Brassicaceue Shinfii Herb Home garden

15 Linumusitatissimum Linaceue Talbaa herb Home garden

16 Ocimum forsholei Lamiaceue Ancaabii Herb Both

17 Permin schimperi Lamiaceue Urgeessaa Tree Wild

18 Ruta chalepenis Rutaceue Xeenaaddami Shrub Home garden

19 Salanium incanon Salanaceue Hiddii Shrub Both

20 Salix mueranata Saliceceue Alaltuu Herb Both

21 Solonummurrginatu Sallanaceue Hiddii hori Herb Both

m

22 Syzygiun guineense Myrtaceue Baddeessaa Tree Wild

23 Vemania smithiana Asterceue Reejjii Shrub Both

24 Vernonia amygdalina Asteraceue Eebicha Home garden

Shreb

25 Withania somnifex Sallanaceue Lallaafaa Shreb Both

26 Zingber officianal Zingberceue Jinjibila Herb Home garden

38
Appendix 2. list of medicinal plants used for treating only human aliments in the study area

No. Scientific Name Local Name Health Parts Route Preparation

Problem

1 A.abyssinia Laafftoo Goiter leaf Dermal Fresh leaf of A.abyssinia is

smashed and the sap is
injected in to the skin
around the swallowed Nek
area eith needle for 3 days.

Stomach bark oral One tea spoon of powdered

bark is taken with tea for 3
ache
days

2 C.hirsute Hiddafitti Tonsillities leaf Dermal Leafs crushed and pressed

rapped with clean cloth and

39
 tied on the neck

3 C.arabica Buna Diarrhea seed oral Powder of roasted coffee

bean will be eaten or drunk
before breakfast for 2-3
days

4 C.macrostachyu Bakkanisa Lymphatic leaf oral Dried leaves will be

s swelling powdered and 2-3 tea
spoon of the powder mixed
with alcohol or coffee and
drunk

5 E.lobules Bargmoddi cough leaf nasal The leaf and the young
branch will be boiled in
water and the steam
inhaled during bed time

6 E.apliphylla Adamii Gonorrhea sap oral 4-6 cup of collected sap

will be mixed with a cup of
wheat flour backed and
eaten to an empty stomach
for 5 days

7 L.sativa Shinfii Diarrhea seed oral Its dried seed one ground
and cough powdered mixed with
water and one coffee cup is
drunk of morning time

8 z.officinale jijimbilla tonsillities rhizom oral Powdering the rhizome

e splitting into mouth of
infected person

9 R.chalepenis xeenaadamii Stomache leaf Op;ral Chopping the leaves adding

and cold honey and drinking one
disease water glass daily until dried

10 v.smithiana reejij ameobosis meriste oral Peeling the young stem

40
 m near the meristem and
chewing it

11 S.incianan hiddi tonsillitis fruit nasal Appliying 1-2 droplet of

and the fruit juice through
toothache nostrils for tonsil and 1-2
drop for infection tooth

12 A.sativum qullubiadi Stomachac bulp oral Peeling the bulp and eating
he and one or two splits before
malaria meal when there is pain

13 C.spinarum Hagansa headache leaf nasal Dry leaf will be smacked

inhaled through nostrils

stomachach leaf oral Powdered leaf will be

e mixed with water lonely
and 2-3 teaspoons will eat
before break fast

Evil eye root nasal Dried root will be crushed

and the smoke will be
inhaled

14 C.devils caatii Intestinal leaf Oral The leafes of c.devil will

parasites chewed and swallowed

Common leaf oral The leaf boiled and drunk

cold

15 C.owrantifwila loomii stomachach fruit oral Fruit powdered and mixed

e with honey

Nasal Fruit nasal Fruit juice will be poured

bleeding in to nose or drunk oral

16 C.africana weddesa Wound leaf dermal The leaf burned and its ash
mixed with butter creamed
on the affected part

41
 17 O.horsholei hancabi Febrile leaf nasal The leaf infusion will be
illness smelled

Appendix 3. List of medicinal plants used for treating any livestock animals

18 S.guineense baddessa Leech bark Nasal Chopping internal parts of

infection stem bark ,making and
giving half of coffee cup
through the nostril

19 J.schimperi dhumuga Black leg Leaf and Oral Leaf and root will be
ana root powdered with dried fruit
and mixed with water and
give a cattle

20 P.schimperi urgasa Eye disease root through The root will be crushed
eye squeezing and few drops
added in to the eye

21 S.meuronat allaltu Joint leaf Oral The leaf ground along with
ha distlocation youngsters mixed with brad
and given to the cattle
problem

22 S.marginath hiddihori Snake bite fruit Oral Snake poisoned animals eat
ium fruits against the poison

Appendix 4. list of medicinal plants used for treating both human and livestock

23 V.amygdalin Eebichaa Blotting and leaf Oral Chopping the leaves

a urine making and drinking one
retention coffee cup for human and
giving little for livestock at
one

24 W.somnifera Lallafa Snake bite All parts Oral Chewing small amounts the
and blotting root and swallowing it for
snake venom and crushing

42
 the leaves and fruit
together making give one
glass water for blotting

25 A.schimperi qurraw Scabies leaf Dermal Chopping the leaves makes

and applying on their
infected part of the body

26 L.visitatissi talba Retained seed Oral Seed is powdered and half

mum placenta of glass at the powdered
dissolved in water and give
to the infected cattle or
human

Appendix 5 List of major treated human, animal and both illness in the study area

List of human disease in the study area

No English name Local name

1 stomachache garacha

2 tonsillitis Harsasee

3 Diarrhea Gaga kasss

4 Lymphatic swelling Dhitoo

5 Cough Qufaa

6 Tooth ache Dhibee hilkaii

7 Malaria Bussa

8 headache Mataboo

9 Evil eye Buda

10 Intestinal parasite Rommoo garaa

11 Nasal bleeding funuuna

12 Wound Madaa

43
13 Febrile illness Michii

14 amoebiasis ameebaa

15 Goiter Inniqii

16 gonorrhea Cophxoo

17 Cold disease Dhibee qorra

List of animal disease in the study area

18 Black leg Bishoftuu

19 Eye disease Dhukuba ijaa

20 Joint dislocation Rakina buusaa

21 Leech infection Uladhula

22 Snake bite Idda bofaa

List of both animal and human disease in the study area

23 Blotting Bokaksaa

24 Retained placenta Diluu

25 Scabies Cittoo

26 Urine retention Rokoo fincanii

Appendix 6. List of semi-structure question

METTU UNIVERSTY

FACALITY OF NATURAL AND COMPTETIONAL SCIENCE

DEPARTMENT OF BIOLOGY

ETHNO BOTANICAL STUDY ON AGWATA KEBELE

Semistructured interview

First of all, we will like to give on an advance for your time to fill the interview.

The objective of our interview will to know indigenous knowledge and use of medicinal
plants in Ageta kebele.
44
Checklist semi structured interview for collect ethno botanical data.

General information

Date______ resident area_______

Name of respondent __________________Sex_________

Age_______ Martial status________ occupation____________

Other how long have you lived in the area?

No Local name Diseases treated Parts of plant used Ways of preparation

6. Where do the plants grow in wild, in garden, or both wild and home garden?

7. What parts of the medicinal plants used (leaf, root, stem, flower, fruit, and seed?)

9. Which plant species are preferred and why?

10. Are medicinal plants easily accessible? If not,..

11. Is there any interference between modernization and managerial intervention in the area?

45